Gerald Breitweiser
Jerseyville | Save
Gerald Breitweiser, 74, died at 4:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.
He was born on December 1, 1951, to the late Eugene Francis and Alberta G. (Tonsor) Breitweiser.
A lifelong resident of Jersey County, Gerald graduated with the Class of 1969 from Jersey Community High School and went on to earn an Associate Degree in Agriculture from Spoon River College.
He began his career with Olin Brass in 1978, where he worked for 38 years before retiring in 2016 as an overhead crane operator. While he took pride in his years at Olin, Gerald's true passion was always farming. Throughout his life, he remained devoted to working the family farm, finding both purpose and enjoyment in the land and the work that came with it. He also enjoyed his time operating a tractor for Moore Farms, allowing him to remain connected to the agricultural community that meant so much to him.
On July 19, 1975, he married Alice Weller at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Jerseyville. Together, they built a life centered around family and proudly raised their two daughters, Lisa and Lori.
Gerald was a familiar face throughout Jersey County and especially at the Jersey County Fair, an event he looked forward to year after year. For many, the fair simply wouldn't have been the same without him. He could often be found sitting on the bench outside the fair office, visiting with old friends, striking up conversations with anyone who passed by and enjoying the familiar faces and friendships that made the fair so special to him. Gerald truly never met a stranger, and his easygoing nature and gift for conversation made him someone people naturally gravitated toward.
An avid sports fan, Gerald found his greatest enjoyment in cheering on those he loved. He was a proud supporter of his daughter Lori throughout her basketball years and carried that same enthusiasm into watching his grandsons, Logan and Jackson, compete in their own sporting events. Whether sitting in the stands or along the sidelines, he rarely missed an opportunity to be there, offering his encouragement and taking pride in every moment.
Above all, Gerald was a man who valued family, friendship and the simple pleasures of life. Whether he was working in the fields, visiting with friends at the fair or cheering on his grandsons, he was happiest surrounded by the people and places he loved. His familiar presence, warm conversations and genuine interest in others will be deeply missed by the many people whose lives he touched.
Surviving are his wife of 51 years, Alice Breitweiser of Jerseyville; a daughter, Lisa Breitweiser of Jerseyville; two grandsons, Logan and Jackson Schultz, both of Jerseyville; a brother and sister-in-law, Elvin and Pam Breitweiser of East Alton; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Barbara Corbin of Orange, Texas, and Dinah Breitweiser and Paul Utterback of Jerseyville; four sisters-in-law and their husbands, Barbara and Leonardo Tobar of San Bernardino, California, Carol and Vernon Chappell of Jerseyville, Carolyn and Lynn Sievers of Jerseyville, and Nancy and David Turner of Jerseyville; along with many extended family members and friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Lori Schultz; a brother-in-law, Tim Corbin; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Robert and Mildred Weller.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10 a.m., Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Jerseyville, with burial to follow at St. Francis Cemetery in Jerseyville.
Memorials may be given to St. Francis/Holy Ghost Catholic School.
Crawford Funeral Home
